To maintain the properties associated with your form or control, use the Show Properties Dialog command from the Window menu. Alternatively, click the Properties toolbar button.
The display of the Properties dialog varies, depending on whether you selected a form or control, or on the type of control. In general, there are five pages, or list types, covering the various properties.
Click the Stay on top of Painter icon at the top left of the dialog to keep the Properties dialog on top of the Painter or the Help icon (?) to access online help for the dialog.
To save the current form when the Properties dialog has focus, press F2.
Most of the properties have default settings and many property values are set automatically when you manipulate your form or controls in Painter or you use some of the menu commands; for example, the Layout or the Options command.
For details about form and control properties, see
To access the Properties dialog for the current form or control
Select the Show Properties Dialog command from the Window menu
Click the Properties toolbar button
Press F4
The Properties dialog, similar to that shown in the following diagram, is then displayed.
The Common page is displayed by default when the Properties dialog is first opened.
You can resize the first column of the Properties dialog, by dragging the vertical grid line to the required position. This may be useful, for example, when viewing ActiveX control property names that can be very long.
Double‑clicking a property in the Properties dialog marks the form as having been modified when:
You toggle a boolean value.
The value is part of a list in which case the value of the listIndex property is incremented.
A Property Pages dialog is displayed and the showPropertyPage method returns that a value has been changed.
A common dialog is displayed and is not cancelled.
Double‑clicking an entry calls the Property Pages dialog only if the getPropertyDisplay method that is called returns true and the hasPropertyPage method also returns true. If the getPropertyDisplay method does not return true, the Property Pages dialog must be opened by using the Change entry in the combo box associated with the property in the column on the right of the Specific page of the Properties dialog.
To change the properties of your form or control, click one of the icons listed in the following table
To change the … | Icon | For details, see… |
---|---|---|
Common properties of your form or control | ![]() |
Maintaining Common Properties |
Properties specific to your form or control | ![]() |
Maintaining Specific Control Properties |
Size and position of the window of your form or control | ![]() |
Maintaining Size and Position Properties |
Color or font of your form or control | ![]() |
Maintaining Font and Color Properties |
Each change that you make to a property is applied immediately the focus is changed from that property or when you press ENTER.